There is no doubt about the meaning of Wilhelm von Humboldts reform of the Prussian university. It has been imitated throughout the world. But how has it been implemented? For the first time the author associates aspects of educational formation and cultural history with economical facets. In the centre of attention are the earnings of the full professors and especially their so called "Kolleggelder", payments of the students for lectures. Thereby can be proved how important financial aspects have been for the success of the "Humboldt-System" and how the full professors became an "elite" in the Prussian society. Additionally the author shows how the legal changes at the end of the 19th century have effect on today´s university in germany.On the scale of things the author presents a compendium of the Prussian history of university.